Travel Weekly rounds up the best-value winter trips, from short hops to long-haul getaways
Click here to download and save as a PDF
1. Lanzarote
Winter temperatures average 20C in the Canary Islands, making them a firm favourite. Lanzarote, with its Mars-like landscapes and cactus-dotted beaches, is an excellent choice – and with a Jet2.com flight from Bournemouth launching this winter and new properties including the Barceló Playa Blanca, there are plenty of options.
The Beatriz Playa & Spa hotel (pictured below) is a short drive from the airport and adjacent to the golden sands of Playa Matagorda.
Book it: EasyJet holidays offers seven nights’ half-board at the Beatriz Playa & Spa from £477, including transfers and flights on February 13, 2025.
easyjet.com/holidays
2. Egypt
Snorkelling spots with shimmering schools of fish, shallow waters perfect for little ones and 350 days of sunshine a year – Hurghada is perfect for a family fly-and-flop.
Suggest the Grand Waterworld Makadi Hotel, which features a multi-domed main building set around nine pools. Flumes snake through the grounds, while there’s a surf simulator for older kids and a swim-up bar for grown-ups.
Book it: Red Sea Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive from £2,511 per person, based on a family of four sharing. The price includes flights on February 19, 2025, and transfers.
redseaholidays.co.uk
3. Marrakech
A city break in Marrakech offers the chance to haggle in bustling souks, stroll through fountain-filled gardens and tuck into a tagine – all with the snow-capped Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. Les Borjs de la Kasbah (pictured below), a riad-inspired hotel in the city’s historic heart, makes a good base.
Book it: Jet2CityBreaks offers three nights’ B&B at Les Borjs de la Kasbah from £389, including luggage and flights from Birmingham on January 17, 2025.
jet2holidays.com
4. The Gambia
Winter is prime time for birdwatching in The Gambia, which has more than 600 species. But that’s not the only winter attraction in this West African country. With direct flights, sandy beaches and tropical temperatures, it provides a lower-cost alternative to the likes of the Caribbean. Plus, there’s no time difference, so clients can wave goodbye to jet lag.
Book it: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ B&B at the Holiday Beach Hotel from £839 per person, including luggage, transfers and flights on January 14, 2025.
olympicholidays.com
5. Goa
February is one of the driest and sunniest months in Goa. Explore the Indian state’s historic churches, take a slow boat through its tropical backwaters or sit on the beach sipping a mango lassi. Low prices mean cocktails, street-food platters and local IPAs are very affordable.
Book it: The Goa Experience offers seven nights’ B&B at the Santana Beach Resort from £1,175, based on two adults sharing a double room. The price includes transfers, airport lounge access in the UK, luggage and flights on November 30.
goaexperience.co.uk
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Wim Hoek, Colin Paterson; Melissa Ciotti
